S. African Communist Party reaffirms strategic importance of tripartite alliance

CAPE TOWN, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The South African Communist Party (SACP) on Tuesday reaffirmed the strategic importance of the tripartite alliance despite challenges facing the alliance.

"Organizational renewal and the strategic reconfiguration of the alliance are imperative, if we are to collectively achieve our historical mission of carrying forward a second radical phase of the national democratic revolution," the SACP said.

Since coming to power in 1994, the ANC has formed a tripartite alliance with the SACP and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).

There have been cracks in the alliance recently after both the SACP and COSATU criticized the ANC for poor leadership that has led to a series of problems, particularly rampant corruption.

There were rumors that the alliance is on the brink of collapse after the SACP threatened to contest the 2019 general elections on its own. The two parties have partnered in wooing votes in past elections.

"It is no secret that over the recent period, the effectiveness of the alliance has declined and the ability of the ANC to provide unifying and strategic leadership to our alliance has diminished," the SACP said.

The SACP statement came after the election of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as the ANC's new president at its 54th National Congress on Monday.

The ANC conference, which opened on Dec. 16 and will last through Dec. 20, has the potential to impact on the future viability of the alliance, said SACP national spokesperson Alex Mashilo.

The SACP urges ANC delegates to agree on policies and a leadership collective that will move the ANC out of the current trend of decline, Mashilo said.

He stressed the importance of the ANC's support for the criminal prosecution of those involved in corruption and other forms of malfeasance in the state, without fear or favor. Enditem